Simon Kjaer ruled out for Sevilla vs Liverpool but Joaquín Correa and Gabriel Mercado return

Sevilla manager Eduardo Berizzo has been handed a late blow ahead of the upcoming visit of Liverpool on Tuesday night (21 November) with Simon Kjaer failing to make the final 18-man squad due to a muscle injury.

Kjaer, 28, has been a key player for Berizzo since being brought from Fenerbahce during the summer transfer window.

The Denmark international has started 11 games for Sevilla during the opening part of the season, playing the full 90 minutes during the 2-2 draw at Liverpool in September.

Kjaer only featured for the final 15 minutes of the Sevilla 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo on weekend after playing both legs of the recent World Cup play-off between Denmark and Ireland, helping his national team to book a place in Russia 2018 with a 5-1 aggregate win.

It looked that Berizzo had only rested his centre-back against Sevilla in order to have him fresh for the crucial visit of Liverpool.

However, Kjaer has failed to make Berizzo's 18-man squad due to a muscle injury which prevented him from training with the rest of his teammates on Monday [20 November].

Sevilla says that Kjaer returned from the recent international duties with some niggles, even though he was risked against Celta.

Brazilian playmaker Ganso is also out but Joaquin Correa and Gabriel Mercado return to the squad after both players missed the win over Sevilla due to respective injuries.

"Joaquín Correa and Gabriel Mercado are the two additions to the squad chosen to host Liverpool from Saturday's clash with Celta Vigo. Simon Kjaer and Ganso miss out on the squad. The absense of the Danish centre-back is due to an injury to his left abductor muscle which stopped him from training this Monday - having already returned from the international break with knocks. " the club confirmed.

Berizzo will have to decide whether to replace Kjaer with Mercado or stick with Johannes Geis after the former started against Celta.

Meanwhile, Correa, who scored a goal at Anfield in September, could also return to the starting line-up to face Liverpool alongside Ever Banega and Ben Yedder after the last two were rested on weekend.

Yet, Berizzo suggested in the preview of the game that both Banega and Steven Nzonzi will have a major role to play on if Sevilla want to beat Liverpool to book a place in the last 16.

"Players like Steven or Ever are the controllers of the game, we are a team with a lot of people that run forwards, they are the regulators of our play and tomorrow will it will be important to dictate the speed when we need to, and make combinations when we need to. We have to avoid losing control carelessly to Liverpool because they are a side that will make you pay," the Sevilla boss said in the press conference ahead of the game.

"We have a great opportunity to achieve our main objective against a huge opponent. These crucial matches instil both confidence and mental stability, but we need to be clever and not be hasty in our play... That type of match doesn't suit us. We have to be calm so that we can choose the right plan and execute it with balance."